Directions (1-15): In each of the question given below a/an idiom/phrase is given in bold which is then followed by five options which then tries to decipher its meaning as used in the sentence. Choose the option which gives the meaning of the phrase most appropriately in context of the given sentence.
Q1. It wasn’t until he was threatened with losing his job that the comments about John’s work ethic really hit home.
(a) Reach home
(b) Get lost
(c) Entirely misconceptualised
(d) Fully understood
(e) Highly recommended
Q2. If you cut corners and don’t apply a top coat, then your nails probably are going to chip faster.
(a) Unfollow
(b)Skipping steps
(c) Leave something
(d) Cheap
(e)Deteriorate
Q3. When you travel by public transportation, you’re always at the mercy of the weather.
(a) Keep away
(b) Stay close
(c) Under control
(d) Under affect
(e) Bad weather
Q4. I’ve gotten the measure of the students, and I just don’t think that topic will hold their interest at an assembly.
(a) Judged
(b) Missed
(c) Knowledgeable
(d) Causing harm
(e) Ignoring
Q5. My grandmother spends more time walking down memory lane these days than talking about the present.
(a) Jogging
(b) On foot
(c) future thinking
(d) postponing physical activity
(e) Remember past events
Q6. We always thought of Michael as a life-long bachelor, so it certainly was a bolt from the blue when he returned from his vacation sporting a wedding ring.
(a) Usual
(b) Non-interesting
(c) Unexpected
(d) Boring
(e)Obvious
Q7.The jury is out on if we are proceeding with the ad campaign as we want to bring in a few more focus groups.
(a) Already decided
(b)Pending decision
(c) Unnecessary
(d) Indispensable
(e) Crucial judgment
Q8. I don’t know whether I can take her storyat face value, but I will assume that she is not lying.
(a)Astonish
(b) Unbelievable
(c) Compensate
(d) Believe
(e) Acquiring
Q9. They were one of the few countries in the EU able to put a lid on unemployment during the recession.
(a) End
(b) Cover
(c) Disguise
(d) Hide
(e) Intermittent
Q10. Lord of the Rings took the whole world by storm; it was one of the most successful movies ever made.
(a) Surprising
(b) Ruling
(c) Successful
(d) Attack
(e) Enraged
Q11. Despite how many want the law repealed, the president may be overplaying his hand by trying to completely dismantle it without having something to take its place.
(a) Misusing position
(b) Handle carelessly
(c) Revelations
(d) Failure
(e) Too much confidence
Q12. My pride was already hurting when I didn’t get the job, but hearing that they gave it to Dave really rubbed salt into the wound.
(a) Aggravate
(b) Culminate
(c) Secretive
(d) Cognizance
(e) Allegation
Q13. I’m really surprised that the sequel holds a candle to the original.
(a)Annihilate
(b) Construct
(c) Oversight
(d) Compare
(e) Conscious
Q14. The candidate boxed himself into a corner during the debate, having to take back several things he’d already said.
(a) Undeniable
(b) Devastate
(c) Predicament
(d) Argument
(e) Variance
Q15. Nancy has been at the helm of our department for so long that I can’t imagine what it will be like once she retires!
(a) Stupid
(b) Calculate
(c) Sensible
(d) Bibulous
(e) In-charge
Solutions
S1. Ans. (d)
Sol. Hit home: To be fully understood by or strongly affect or resonate with someone.
Hence, option (d) is the right answer choice.
S2. Ans. (b)
Sol. Cut corners: To skip certain steps in order to do something as easily or cheaply as possible, usually to the detriment of the finished product or end result.
Hence, option (b) is the right answer choice.
S3. Ans. (c)
Sol. At the mercy of (something or someone): Subject to the control or actions of a particular person or thing.
Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
S4. Ans. (a)
Sol. To get the measure of (someone or something): To understand or know someone or something well and use that knowledge accordingly; to have an accurate conception of someone or something.
Hence, option (a) is the right answer choice.
S5. Ans. (e)
Sol. Walk down memory lane: To reminisce over memories of past events, especially happy ones.
Hence, option (e) is the right answer choice.
S6. Ans. (c)
Sol. A bolt out of the blue: Something unexpected or surprising.
Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
S7. Ans. (b)
Sol. A jury is still out: A decision has not yet been made.
Hence, option (b) is the right answer choice.
S8. Ans. (d)
Sol. Take (something)at face value: to accept someone or something just as it appears; to believe that the way things appear is the way they really are.
Hence, option (d) is the right answer choice.
S9. Ans. (a)
Sol. To put a lid on (something or someone): stop, finish, end or destroy (something before it increases or becomes serious/severe).
Hence, option (a) is the right answer choice.
S10. Ans. (c)
Sol. Take (something) by storm: be extremely successful very quickly in a particular place or among particular people
– To conquer, seize, or lay siege to something, someone, or some place with a sudden and furious attack.
Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
S11. Ans. (e)
Sol. Overplay one’s hand: To have too much confidence in one’s ability or position and fail to achieve something as a result.
Hence, option (e) is the right answer choice.
S12. Ans. (a)
Sol. rub salt into a wound: To make something that is already difficult, unpleasant, or painful even worse; to accentuate, aggravate, or intensify a negative situation, emotion, or experience (for someone).
Hence, option (a) is the right answer choice.
S13. Ans. (d)
Sol. Hold a candle: To compare to someone or something; to be as good or desirable as someone or something. Often used in the negative to mean the opposite.
Hence, option (d) is the right answer choice.
S14. Ans. (c)
Sol. Box oneself into a corner: To create a predicament or unpleasant situation for oneself whereby there are no or very few favorable solutions or outcomes.
Hence, option (c) is the right answer choice.
S15. Ans. (e)
Sol. At the helm: In charge; acting as the leader of something. The phrase originated as a nautical term, meaning “in the position to steer a ship”
Hence, option (e) is the right answer choice.
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